Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 23) (Green)

Collect
Stir up, O Lord,the wills of your faithful people,that richly bearing the fruit of good works,we may by you be richly rewarded;through Jesus Christ our Lord,who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,one God, now and for ever.

First Reading
A READING FROM THE BOOK OF PROVERBSA good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favour is better than silver or gold. The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord is the maker of them all. Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of anger will fail. Those who are generous are blessed, for they share their bread with the poor. Do not rob the poor because they are poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate; for the Lord pleads their cause and despoils of life those who despoil them. PROVERBS 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23

Psalm
REFRAIN Those who trust in the Lord stand fast for ever.

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but stands fast for ever.

The hills stand about Jerusalem; so does the Lord stand round about his people, from this time forth for evermore. R

The sceptre of the wicked shall not hold sway over the land allotted to the just, so that the just shall not put their hands to evil. R

Show your goodness, O Lord, to those who are good and to those who are true of heart.

As for those who turn aside to crooked ways, the Lord will lead them away with the evildoers; but peace be upon Israel. R PSALM 125

Second Reading
A READING FROM THE LETTER OF JAMESMy brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favouritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonoured the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you? You do well if you really fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.

[For the one who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgement will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgement.]

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. JAMES 2:1-10 (11-13), 14-17

Gospel
THE HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO MARKJesus set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go the demon has left your daughter.” So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.” MARK 7:24-37

Prayer over the Gifts
Great and holy God,accept our offering of labour and love.May we bring you true and spiritual worshipand be one with you.We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.

Prayer After Communion
Father,your word and sacrament give us food and life.May we who have shared in holy thingsbear fruit to your honour and glory,in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.